Cochrane crews often work throughout the night to make sure you arrive to your destination safely.
Cochrane’s snow and ice control program helps keep our roads safe and passable, prioritizing emergency routes first. Watch our video to learn more.
Snow plowing
Snowplowing starts after three centimetres of snow has built up or when snow drifting impedes traffic movement. In most cases, the snow is pushed off to the side, creating piles called windrows.
Snow is plowed in this order:
- emergency routes
- arterial thoroughfares
- collectors
- designated hills and roads used by emergency response personnel
- industrial area
- residential intersections connecting with arterial thoroughfares and collectors
Snow clearing routes 2024/2025 (PDF)
Helping snow plow operators work safely:
When you see a snowplow displaying flashing blue and amber lights, use extra caution and give the vehicle plenty of space.
Motorists are encouraged to:
- Slow down and stay alert. Adjust your speed to the road, weather, and visibility conditions.
- Keep a safe following distance. Snowplows can create clouds of blowing snow and temporarily obstruct your view of the road ahead.
- Do not pass unless it is safe and legal. Never attempt to pass when visibility is obstructed, the maneuver would interfere with snow clearing operations or there is insufficient room to pass safely.
- Watch for sudden changes in road conditions. Snowplows may be clearing snow, spreading sand or other materials, or moving between lanes as part of their work.
- Follow Alberta's Slow Down, Move Over requirements. When approaching roadside workers and vehicles covered by the applicable rules, slow down and move over when required and when it is safe to do so.
New in 2026
The Government of Alberta introduced a blue light pilot project to improve the visibility and safety of roadside workers, including snowplow operators and highway maintenance crews. Under the initiative, eligible highway maintenance vehicles can use flashing blue lights in addition to their existing amber warning lights while performing authorized work. The goal is to help motorists recognize working roadside vehicles sooner, remain alert and take appropriate precautions when approaching them. Cochrane will officially be implementing the blue lights on our snow plows this season.
Snow removal
When the buildup of snow impedes traffic flow and on-street parking, we use trucks or loaders to remove it. When it is necessary to clear snow, the order of priorities are as follows:
- Priority 1 — emergency routes and arterial thoroughfares
- Priority 2 — downtown core (between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.)
- Priority 3 — school zones
Priorities are assigned to certain roadways according to traffic volumes and physical characteristics.
Sidewalk and pathway clearing
Cochrane’s Parks and Open Spaces department takes care of clearing snow from sidewalks and pathways within 48 hours of a snowfall. This includes:
- sidewalks adjacent to Town-owned buildings, properties and Town-maintained parks
- sidewalks adjacent to public schools
- Town-maintained stairway links within communities
- bridge walkways across the Bow River and Jumping Pound Creek
- asphalt pathways and sidewalks adjacent to roadways, allowing pedestrian access to the downtown core
- asphalt pathways within parks and environmental reserves
- asphalt pathway links
Areas not designated to be cleared of snow include:
- residential sidewalks
- unpaved pathways within parks and environmental reserves
Pathway Snow Routes 2024/2025 (PDF)
Sanding and salting
We sand and salt streets, lanes and sidewalks to ensure a reasonable level of safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Sand and salt storage
To reduce effects on the environment, we load, off-load and stockpile sand and salt at our salt storage facility following the Road Salt Management Plan.
Sand/salt mix is available for Cochrane residents to help deal with slippery sidewalks, walkways and driveways. This is for residential addresses only and isn’t intended for businesses or snow removal and clearing companies.
The pickup site is in the Matt Krol sports field parking lot at 245 Riverview Dr. Please remember to bring a bucket and shovel.
Concerns and requests
Help us keep Cochrane’s roads clear and safe. We rely on residents’ input during snow emergencies. We’ll investigate your report and take action if required. Report a concern online or submit through the "Report a Problem" form on our App.
How you can help
During a snowstorm, you can help our crews by not parking along emergency routes, arterial thoroughfares and collectors. The best option is to use off-street parking, such as a driveway, parking pad or garage.
Other ways you can help include:
- Drive carefully around plows and sanding vehicles.
- Shovel driveways and sidewalks onto your property — not roadways.
- Keep storm drains clear of ice and snow to allow for optimum drainage.
- In inclement weather, drive with extreme care. Driving on snow-packed and icy roads requires your full attention. When road conditions are poor, allow extra room between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
- Brake slowly.
- Keep your windshield clean.
- During times of reduced visibility, watch for bicycles and pedestrians, especially around schools. If at all possible, do not drive during a storm. It is much safer to stay at home and wait until conditions improve.
- Never assume that because the temperature is above zero, the roads are safe. Road salt does not work miracles and is not effective below -10 C.